1 00:00:01,37 --> 00:00:02,94 Thank you. 2 00:00:10,87 --> 00:00:15,52 Hello and welcome to summer home neighborhood news today is April twenty second and 3 00:00:15,53 --> 00:00:21,25 today is Earth Day I'm one and I'm Andrew McLeod Summerville neighborhood news is 4 00:00:21,26 --> 00:00:27,10 a community service production of scatty put together by staff interns and your 5 00:00:27,11 --> 00:00:32,07 neighbors we bring you the news every two weeks right here on channel three and 6 00:00:32,08 --> 00:00:34,50 also on our Web site Scott T.V. 7 00:00:34,54 --> 00:00:38,40 Summerville dot org Tonight our reporters bring you 8 00:00:38,41 --> 00:00:43,31 a story about how people and organizations are mobilizing to make sure their voices 9 00:00:43,57 --> 00:00:48,45 are heard as plans advance for the Union Square we look at the multicultural fair 10 00:00:48,63 --> 00:00:52,77 of the Somerville high school and you'll head to T.V. 11 00:00:52,90 --> 00:00:55,69 But the high school quizzed him again we've also got 12 00:00:55,70 --> 00:01:00,91 a story about one of the nine new officers who recently joined the police force and 13 00:01:00,92 --> 00:01:04,84 we bring you an in-depth look at the plight of dozens of high school students who 14 00:01:04,85 --> 00:01:08,85 arrived in this country as children but first let's have 15 00:01:08,86 --> 00:01:13,38 a look at some news and upcoming events. Well it's back to the drawing board for 16 00:01:13,39 --> 00:01:16,02 the powerhouse community school property at 17 00:01:16,03 --> 00:01:19,99 a meeting last month city officials announced that they were opening the process up 18 00:01:20,00 --> 00:01:25,06 again we'll be looking into this issue in an upcoming newscast some of those top 19 00:01:25,07 --> 00:01:30,90 models will be hitting the runway on May first come to the art at the Armory one 20 00:01:30,91 --> 00:01:35,80 ninety one Highland I have to attend to beyond the pattern runway presentation 21 00:01:35,84 --> 00:01:40,13 exploring the interface between art and fashion it's part of some of the Open 22 00:01:40,14 --> 00:01:45,01 Studios be young designers challenge this year is a group from the summer of 23 00:01:45,02 --> 00:01:50,50 a high school fashion club the show is free and starts at seven doors open at six 24 00:01:50,58 --> 00:01:52,75 Karlie if you want to be sure to get 25 00:01:52,76 --> 00:01:57,98 a seat in recognition of Earth Day we want to make sure everyone knows about 26 00:01:57,99 --> 00:02:02,27 several recent reports on climate change the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate 27 00:02:02,28 --> 00:02:02,73 Change is 28 00:02:02,74 --> 00:02:08,22 a group of scientists who research and advise the UN on climate change the panel 29 00:02:08,23 --> 00:02:08,57 released 30 00:02:08,61 --> 00:02:13,26 a new report earlier this month with dire warnings the scientists said that the 31 00:02:13,27 --> 00:02:19,43 impacts of human induced climate change are already quote severe pervasive and 32 00:02:19,44 --> 00:02:25,73 irreversible the report can be downloaded at I P C C dot C H another prestigious 33 00:02:25,74 --> 00:02:31,85 Association has also raised the alarm the American Association for the Advancement 34 00:02:31,86 --> 00:02:33,32 of Science just in the 35 00:02:33,72 --> 00:02:39,65 a new campaign to educate people called what we know check out the video and read 36 00:02:39,66 --> 00:02:46,59 or download documentation at what we know Dot A us dot org And here's more 37 00:02:46,60 --> 00:02:51,31 environmental news from closer to home almost one hundred professors at Harvard 38 00:02:51,32 --> 00:02:53,50 recently made their headlines and they signed 39 00:02:53,51 --> 00:02:58,70 a letter demanding that the university purge its endowment of all investments in 40 00:02:58,74 --> 00:03:04,39 oil and coal companies in other words fossil feels Harvard has the largest 41 00:03:04,40 --> 00:03:09,47 university endowments in the country about thirty three billion dollars The Harvard 42 00:03:09,48 --> 00:03:14,98 professors letter came out. The South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu called for 43 00:03:14,99 --> 00:03:20,85 a quote an apartheid style boycott to save the planet and quote writing in The 44 00:03:20,86 --> 00:03:25,82 Guardian newspaper to two said he wanted all governments and institutions to divest 45 00:03:25,92 --> 00:03:31,74 from fossil fuel companies to to was crucial in the anti-apartheid movement in his 46 00:03:31,75 --> 00:03:37,45 country and in the global campaign to get universities and other institutions to 47 00:03:37,46 --> 00:03:42,70 sell their shares in South African companies in his article to two wrote that it is 48 00:03:42,71 --> 00:03:48,41 the responsibility of all people to stop climate change he said quote Who can stop 49 00:03:48,42 --> 00:03:53,94 it well we care to find the article published on April tenth go to the guardian dot 50 00:03:53,95 --> 00:03:58,82 com and search for Tutu and the word climate there are organizations and 51 00:03:58,83 --> 00:04:03,67 individuals right here in Somerville who are already asking the city to sell its 52 00:04:03,68 --> 00:04:08,78 stocks and oil and coal companies to learn more about the campaign at the end of 53 00:04:08,79 --> 00:04:14,38 the program we'll be joined by Shoshana Blanc of Fossil Free Somerville and by Marc 54 00:04:14,39 --> 00:04:14,57 need 55 00:04:14,58 --> 00:04:21,99 a gang Alderman Ward five now to the news every year some sixty five thousand undocumented 56 00:04:22,00 --> 00:04:26,56 youth graduate from high schools in the United States many of them at least 57 00:04:26,57 --> 00:04:32,24 a dozen and maybe many more right here in Somerville reporter Marcello Bruce SR and 58 00:04:32,25 --> 00:04:36,81 news director Jane Regan bring us more eighteen and 59 00:04:36,82 --> 00:04:42,79 a senior. Captain and I think the. Current who have 60 00:04:43,18 --> 00:04:44,58 a three point five U.P.A. 61 00:04:45,69 --> 00:04:52,64 This they're. Recruiting me Merrimac in my floor you must heard 62 00:04:53,30 --> 00:04:54,13 great grades 63 00:04:54,28 --> 00:04:59,63 a star athlete but this Somerville high senior and many others like him doesn't 64 00:04:59,64 --> 00:05:05,91 have the same options as his classmates. He's undocumented I was thirteen when I 65 00:05:05,92 --> 00:05:12,58 came here I had that this faster that Cotard I'll do my homework every 66 00:05:12,59 --> 00:05:14,57 night I was to 67 00:05:14,58 --> 00:05:19,11 a new senior and then I realized that this situation I'm going college is not just 68 00:05:19,12 --> 00:05:25,85 having good grades are being good some for. Michel freight us 69 00:05:25,95 --> 00:05:30,11 had a similar experience in my senior year I kind of hit a little bit of 70 00:05:30,12 --> 00:05:36,52 a desperation point where I didn't know what to do you know I had to plow the 71 00:05:36,53 --> 00:05:40,72 colleges by the know what colleges would take me because I was undocumented there 72 00:05:40,73 --> 00:05:44,78 were no scholarships and little scholarships available to me so I was kind of in 73 00:05:44,79 --> 00:05:49,38 a tough situation the feeling of seeing all my peers around me you know filling out 74 00:05:49,39 --> 00:05:54,78 the FAFSA was just apply getting the driver's license and getting all these amazing 75 00:05:54,79 --> 00:06:01,72 jobs it was horrible I remember that I would get home and I would break down I 76 00:06:01,73 --> 00:06:06,96 would break down into tears because I had worked my whole life you know studied 77 00:06:06,97 --> 00:06:12,11 hard work hard to achieve something once graduation came around and it was kind of 78 00:06:12,12 --> 00:06:18,57 like all the doors of the world were so the shot to me you know. Every year sixty 79 00:06:18,58 --> 00:06:23,84 five thousand undocumented youth graduate from high schools across the country in 80 00:06:23,85 --> 00:06:25,37 Somerville the number might be 81 00:06:25,38 --> 00:06:30,86 a dozen but it might be much higher students are not obligated to disclose their 82 00:06:30,87 --> 00:06:36,33 status undocumented students are not eligible for most grants or financial aid or 83 00:06:36,34 --> 00:06:42,99 even in-state tuition. School counselor and Hertzberg tries to help those she can 84 00:06:43,80 --> 00:06:46,96 one of the hardest things I see every year are students who have done everything 85 00:06:46,97 --> 00:06:51,69 right in high school they've taken the right classes they've tried they've excelled 86 00:06:51,73 --> 00:06:56,35 they've week out in the community got involved but it captains of sports teams 87 00:06:56,36 --> 00:06:59,37 started new activities kind of everything that you would hope 88 00:06:59,38 --> 00:07:01,41 a student would do in the U.S. 89 00:07:01,42 --> 00:07:07,06 High school sort of for your experience and because of their status here Their I'm 90 00:07:07,07 --> 00:07:08,26 able to find 91 00:07:08,30 --> 00:07:12,35 a place that will accept them and will give them the financial support that they 92 00:07:12,36 --> 00:07:17,71 need to be able to attend a four year college especially. Part of my job as 93 00:07:17,72 --> 00:07:20,93 a guidance counselor is helping all of my students apply for college so when I 94 00:07:20,94 --> 00:07:24,24 start talking to my students especially in the junior year and beginning of senior 95 00:07:24,25 --> 00:07:27,99 year. Where I have to let them know that the college application process and 96 00:07:28,00 --> 00:07:31,61 especially the financial aid process is very different depending on their status in 97 00:07:31,62 --> 00:07:38,43 the U.S. You need to ask them to resend it to you. As an immigrant myself and as 98 00:07:38,44 --> 00:07:43,47 a counsellor it's hard for me to not believe in the American dream that students 99 00:07:43,48 --> 00:07:48,58 can be here and be successful and work hard and achieve and every time they see 100 00:07:48,59 --> 00:07:54,55 them doing everything that they need to be doing and not able to get that last that 101 00:07:54,56 --> 00:07:59,70 last step of getting that diploma and getting with the you know the recognition the 102 00:07:59,71 --> 00:08:04,59 success this cautious whatever that they deserve it really really breaks my heart I 103 00:08:04,60 --> 00:08:11,06 go to bed every night Think about it from. Me crying and then choose the why and I 104 00:08:11,07 --> 00:08:15,76 do the like talking about it because I don't want to hurt my parents the they have 105 00:08:15,77 --> 00:08:20,84 been working for hard for me through then college students brought to the United 106 00:08:20,85 --> 00:08:26,02 States before two thousand and seven can apply for DACA which means Deferred Action 107 00:08:26,03 --> 00:08:29,11 for Childhood Arrivals DACA recipients get 108 00:08:29,12 --> 00:08:32,96 a work permit and access to some financial aid Somerville has 109 00:08:32,97 --> 00:08:37,18 a large number of students that do qualify for the Deferred Action for Childhood 110 00:08:37,19 --> 00:08:41,46 Arrivals the students did have to be in the country prior to June fifteenth two 111 00:08:41,47 --> 00:08:44,87 thousand and seven so for the students that I work with the vast majority actually 112 00:08:44,88 --> 00:08:48,86 came after that date but in the city of Somerville and some of the high school we 113 00:08:48,87 --> 00:08:52,44 have many students are qualified I probably had about ten students that qualified 114 00:08:52,78 --> 00:08:58,76 but many did not I arrived in the defeat in January twenty seventh two thousand and 115 00:08:59,10 --> 00:09:04,95 four zero zero zero zero zero two years early. Students like the soccer player are 116 00:09:04,96 --> 00:09:11,39 in limbo if it passes the DREAM Act would provide some relief. Congressman Michael 117 00:09:11,40 --> 00:09:15,59 Kaplan Outbacks that there are that I am supporter of the DREAM Act But I am 118 00:09:15,60 --> 00:09:20,38 a supporter of the DREAM Act pending passage of comprehensive immigration reform if 119 00:09:20,39 --> 00:09:21,44 and when we can ever get to 120 00:09:21,45 --> 00:09:25,52 a decent comprehensive immigration reform I'm hoping that the dream act of there no 121 00:09:25,53 --> 00:09:30,19 longer be necessary I look at it as a temporary necessity as 122 00:09:30,20 --> 00:09:34,05 a bridge to where we really want to be look I mean you can make an argument every 123 00:09:34,06 --> 00:09:37,60 day of the week as though about adults who may or may have come here illegally 124 00:09:37,77 --> 00:09:42,37 usually stayed here illegally and that's fine that's one part of this question I 125 00:09:42,38 --> 00:09:43,27 just don't think it's 126 00:09:43,28 --> 00:09:47,91 a valid part of the discussion to include children who really didn't choose their 127 00:09:47,92 --> 00:09:52,39 life they're tending in limbo and I think they're wasting their future not in what 128 00:09:52,75 --> 00:09:55,65 they are we are wasting their future on their behalf I think it's 129 00:09:55,66 --> 00:10:02,58 a terrible tragedy. We we were born here basically I mean we may have 130 00:10:02,59 --> 00:10:07,27 been born in another country but we are basically Americans where I don't see any 131 00:10:07,28 --> 00:10:12,02 of the life of of them living in the United States where all my culture has been 132 00:10:12,03 --> 00:10:17,21 Americanised than you know the way I speak has been American as we're Americans and 133 00:10:17,35 --> 00:10:21,66 we want to make this country great we want to work and you know contribute to our 134 00:10:21,67 --> 00:10:28,44 society here. Michel free to us was lucky he got his green card at the last minute 135 00:10:28,54 --> 00:10:31,11 and was able to attend college today he works at 136 00:10:31,12 --> 00:10:36,44 a bank but the soccer player isn't so lucky he might go back to Brazil or maybe 137 00:10:36,45 --> 00:10:41,43 attend community college if he can afford it intil comprehensive immigration reform 138 00:10:41,44 --> 00:10:46,68 passes tens of thousands of kids just like the soccer player who grew up right here 139 00:10:46,69 --> 00:10:50,45 in the United States are stuck in limbo reporting for 140 00:10:50,46 --> 00:10:56,04 a Somerville neighborhood news and with the help of Marcello bro Sr I'm Jane Regan 141 00:10:56,64 --> 00:11:00,39 it's tragic and I really wonder how long it's going to take for an immigration 142 00:11:00,40 --> 00:11:06,01 reform to be passed I have no idea but Congressman couple want to urge that 143 00:11:06,05 --> 00:11:10,54 everyone who can vote to vote in every election next here's 144 00:11:10,55 --> 00:11:15,29 a story I did about the Summerville High School quiz team remember how earlier this 145 00:11:15,30 --> 00:11:19,73 winter the team beat out Nantucket high school well that when put them into the 146 00:11:19,74 --> 00:11:24,13 quarter finals the Somerville high school students returned to W.G. 147 00:11:24,14 --> 00:11:30,93 Ph in February for the next round of the quiz show this match 148 00:11:30,94 --> 00:11:35,49 against Sharon high school is the first time some of the high has ever gotten to 149 00:11:35,50 --> 00:11:38,26 the quarter finals. Well I'm excited but I'm 150 00:11:38,27 --> 00:11:45,23 a little bit nervous because I think it's going to be able to. Be. This team has 151 00:11:45,24 --> 00:11:51,68 already won their first round still lives. There still they've got some still. 152 00:11:53,11 --> 00:11:57,71 Yet I think a place literally himself or one of them could interfere with 153 00:11:57,72 --> 00:12:01,24 a microphone some of the same in either case see. 154 00:12:09,84 --> 00:12:16,07 The day quarter final match up Somerville high school we've got so mean Miles 155 00:12:16,29 --> 00:12:19,34 Graham and John let's hear it first summer after. 156 00:12:26,99 --> 00:12:33,72 The to see who won turn in on Saturday April twenty sixth at six P.M. 157 00:12:33,81 --> 00:12:40,23 On W G B H Channel two for more information check out high school quiz show dot org 158 00:12:40,76 --> 00:12:46,41 This next story is also from you write him that's right and I had the privilege of 159 00:12:46,42 --> 00:12:52,46 spending time with some of Somerville's finest. Last November the Somerville Police 160 00:12:52,47 --> 00:12:58,48 Department at nine you officers to its rank Deputy Chief Michael Kopper all took 161 00:12:58,49 --> 00:13:02,03 part in the interview process for the new recruits it a verse they speak 162 00:13:02,07 --> 00:13:04,16 a second language most of them there's 163 00:13:04,17 --> 00:13:07,45 a lot of camaraderie that occurred in the police academy but since they've come on 164 00:13:07,46 --> 00:13:09,75 the street now they've really devolved into 165 00:13:09,76 --> 00:13:13,74 a fine young offices they'll have promising career is it's really 166 00:13:13,75 --> 00:13:16,91 a breath of fresh air when you get new police officers they're really dedicated to 167 00:13:17,45 --> 00:13:21,29 this group of nine probably some of our best highest one of the new hires is the 168 00:13:21,30 --> 00:13:25,56 Portuguese woman Cassandra comes out of it we actually had about five or six 169 00:13:25,57 --> 00:13:29,38 different female candidates in the group which we thought was fantastic because 170 00:13:29,57 --> 00:13:29,78 there was 171 00:13:29,79 --> 00:13:34,12 a largest group of female candidates because Souter was actually the only one that 172 00:13:34,13 --> 00:13:38,80 made it through the entire process and that's. Volumes were ten per cent to choose 173 00:13:39,28 --> 00:13:43,12 she would you carry and long queues Cademy too little to do so. 174 00:13:54,14 --> 00:14:01,06 We graduated in November fifteenth. Better. And we've been in patrols 175 00:14:01,07 --> 00:14:07,74 ever since we did two months of field training and now we're all on our own with. A 176 00:14:07,75 --> 00:14:13,28 courier. For hardships and sometimes their prejudices you know sometimes people 177 00:14:13,29 --> 00:14:16,27 think that no female officer can do with 178 00:14:16,28 --> 00:14:20,47 a mill themselves or can do what you want to SAGAL have to deal with those issues 179 00:14:20,75 --> 00:14:26,05 just like anybody else and I can tell you that you're representing with proper that 180 00:14:26,06 --> 00:14:30,18 she's the type of person who's respectful she's honest to have 181 00:14:30,19 --> 00:14:34,04 a very polite so I don't assume that's you know that like oh I was basically the 182 00:14:34,05 --> 00:14:40,61 first generation. Of my family to be here in United States to be born here. And you 183 00:14:40,62 --> 00:14:41,47 know coming here from 184 00:14:41,48 --> 00:14:44,51 a different country and essentially starting all over and building 185 00:14:44,52 --> 00:14:50,40 a family is as tough and for them you know they did in my opinion and I in another 186 00:14:50,41 --> 00:14:52,92 lot of other people's opinions I would say that they did very well you know they 187 00:14:52,93 --> 00:14:57,59 put me through school they come into college and they have I've had 188 00:14:57,60 --> 00:14:59,98 a roof over my head and put on the table. 189 00:15:05,21 --> 00:15:05,40 For 190 00:15:06,22 --> 00:15:12,27 a female female as unresponsive and we got on the scene and once you leave that 191 00:15:12,28 --> 00:15:15,81 call you don't know what has happened that person so you know they put her in the 192 00:15:15,82 --> 00:15:22,76 end months to this day I don't know if she survived or as she passed away. That 193 00:15:22,77 --> 00:15:26,76 someone's grandmother that someone's mother that someone's wife and need to seen 194 00:15:27,35 --> 00:15:30,79 you know her husband standing there next to her you know he's kind of helpless and 195 00:15:31,35 --> 00:15:37,58 that's just one of those moments where you're like wow you know. The hardest part 196 00:15:37,59 --> 00:15:44,01 is just not knowing what happened to her. Doesn't matter what day doesn't matter 197 00:15:44,02 --> 00:15:47,81 what time doesn't matter what you have doesn't matter really where you are as 198 00:15:47,82 --> 00:15:52,86 a police officer your life is in danger at all times. It doesn't matter really 199 00:15:52,87 --> 00:15:56,57 matter if you're on the day shift on and on a midnight shift it's 200 00:15:56,58 --> 00:16:01,61 a dangerous profession and take special people to be police officers. There G.-O. 201 00:16:01,62 --> 00:16:07,03 Way there's no. Bus here or are basically wanting to be that person on. 202 00:16:09,89 --> 00:16:13,12 Earth something goes wrong you're the person that responds You're the person that 203 00:16:13,47 --> 00:16:19,61 you know people. Just always something that I know I've won and I can't really 204 00:16:19,78 --> 00:16:23,42 pinpoint a reason or give you 205 00:16:23,43 --> 00:16:27,81 a time frame of when I really just dawned on me that I wanted to do it but it's 206 00:16:28,22 --> 00:16:31,83 just one of those gut feelings where you just know that this is what you want to do 207 00:16:32,37 --> 00:16:36,90 and that's only about it that's the only way that I can really explain why 208 00:16:36,91 --> 00:16:41,96 a chose to do it. A story we were sworn in as 209 00:16:41,97 --> 00:16:45,10 a police officer this offseason we took on all of that we were going to serve the 210 00:16:45,11 --> 00:16:52,01 community service people. Some will today is safer than it's ever been crime is at 211 00:16:52,02 --> 00:16:55,98 an all time low so much change it's a very exciting city so 212 00:16:55,99 --> 00:17:01,12 a lot going on the police promise is just one part of the success of what song was 213 00:17:01,13 --> 00:17:06,55 all about today. The nine new officers are hoping to play their part in building 214 00:17:06,56 --> 00:17:12,63 a safer future for the city for Somerville neighborhood News I'm Emily and. That 215 00:17:12,64 --> 00:17:18,62 was great. No let's go to the Somerville journal to see what's in next week's paper 216 00:17:18,62 --> 00:17:18,62 . 217 00:17:30,73 --> 00:17:33,70 Lou this week in the Somerville Journal we'll have the latest on the former 218 00:17:33,71 --> 00:17:36,96 Somerville teacher accused of trafficking child pornography we'll have 219 00:17:36,97 --> 00:17:40,73 a closer look at the stricter ethics ordinance proposed by Mayor Joe Carollo Tony 220 00:17:40,92 --> 00:17:44,68 will have full coverage of the Patriots' Day celebration you can always check it 221 00:17:44,69 --> 00:17:45,47 out online it with 222 00:17:45,48 --> 00:17:49,54 a book called dot com slash Summerville and follow us at Ville journal and you can 223 00:17:49,55 --> 00:17:53,80 get in touch with me at six one seven six two nine three three eight five or D 224 00:17:53,81 --> 00:17:56,27 Atkinson at wicked vocal dot com Here's 225 00:17:56,28 --> 00:18:00,24 a story about all the news outlets have been following the Union Square 226 00:18:00,32 --> 00:18:05,71 redevelopment some people are nervous that the process is moving too quickly and 227 00:18:05,72 --> 00:18:11,34 that residents and locally owned businesses might be left behind. Some business 228 00:18:11,35 --> 00:18:14,10 owners have been circulating a petition asking for 229 00:18:14,11 --> 00:18:21,52 a seat at the table. Tell 230 00:18:21,53 --> 00:18:28,41 us what's going on. Leave everything blank. Last minute like that they would have. 231 00:18:29,44 --> 00:18:31,04 I think the first thing we're asking for is 232 00:18:31,05 --> 00:18:36,81 a meeting with the city to discuss concerns. And I think it's useful that we're 233 00:18:36,82 --> 00:18:41,66 getting together to start the conversation with each other. A group of unions where 234 00:18:41,67 --> 00:18:48,21 residents are also hoping to influence the process. And at an April ninth meeting 235 00:18:48,48 --> 00:18:52,81 a collection of groups led by the Somerville Community Corporation presented the 236 00:18:52,82 --> 00:18:54,75 community advisory committee with 237 00:18:54,76 --> 00:19:00,75 a document they call equity standards Tonight we are really excited to present. 238 00:19:01,99 --> 00:19:07,65 Our equity standards which is a document we've worked on for the last year with 239 00:19:07,69 --> 00:19:14,46 a partner. We think that this document can be really valuable as you 240 00:19:14,47 --> 00:19:19,57 consider your as you consider the different bidders for the Union Square 241 00:19:19,58 --> 00:19:25,08 redevelopment proposal the document suggest guidelines for things like the number 242 00:19:25,09 --> 00:19:31,26 of local jobs affordable housing units and amount of open space. We heard from 243 00:19:31,27 --> 00:19:35,19 a lot of business owners and local residents that they are not aware of what's 244 00:19:35,20 --> 00:19:39,57 going on and that when they did hear about the redevelopment project in process 245 00:19:39,90 --> 00:19:45,05 they think it's moving too quickly we want to make sure that as our city changes 246 00:19:45,09 --> 00:19:51,16 it's changing in equitable manner ward to Alderman Marion Houston was also present 247 00:19:51,49 --> 00:19:56,44 where the rub is going to meet the road is once somebody is chosen what the process 248 00:19:56,45 --> 00:20:01,91 really for me will begin and then we'll be working with whoever is chosen to make 249 00:20:01,92 --> 00:20:07,40 sure that you know. The important the things that are important to people in this 250 00:20:07,41 --> 00:20:13,30 community get recognised and respect. It and worked and I'm not saying I'm against 251 00:20:13,31 --> 00:20:18,65 developed and I'm absolutely not in fact I'm very excited about this this is I've 252 00:20:18,66 --> 00:20:24,22 waited for this my whole life I've grown grew up here and I can't wait to see what 253 00:20:24,23 --> 00:20:29,87 will happen but I also can't wait to see how we can influence what will happen and 254 00:20:29,88 --> 00:20:34,70 that's the important piece as the older and said the rubber will meet the road once 255 00:20:34,71 --> 00:20:40,41 the master developer is chosen and that's when the participation transparency and 256 00:20:40,42 --> 00:20:44,90 equity being asked for by the residents and the small business owners will be 257 00:20:44,91 --> 00:20:51,06 crucial will those equity standards be met Will small business owners get 258 00:20:51,07 --> 00:20:57,15 a seat at the table we'll be watching for Somerville neighborhood news I'm Jane 259 00:20:57,19 --> 00:21:02,12 Reagan our last story is from Somerville high school student reporter Marcello bro 260 00:21:02,13 --> 00:21:05,89 senior He recently attended the school's multicultural fair. 261 00:21:09,53 --> 00:21:14,75 Want to welcome everybody to our sixteen and you know signature here it is 262 00:21:14,76 --> 00:21:19,98 a day of celebration rolled in the school really come together and share their food 263 00:21:19,99 --> 00:21:23,92 their culture their dancing music and appreciate each other with very much here 264 00:21:24,84 --> 00:21:30,26 that we have that opportunity now know that many cities too but we have. Just about 265 00:21:30,27 --> 00:21:34,61 every country we have forty countries represented of those forty countries nine 266 00:21:34,62 --> 00:21:38,95 countries along with Latin America perform dance routines choreographed by the 267 00:21:38,96 --> 00:21:40,92 students it was a culmination of 268 00:21:40,93 --> 00:21:49,01 a lot of afterschool practice. That 269 00:21:49,01 --> 00:21:55,33 . I think that this might be 270 00:21:55,34 --> 00:21:59,02 because he shared with everyone else I think 271 00:21:59,18 --> 00:22:04,80 a little piece of my culture and my heart that theory thing the culture because I 272 00:22:04,81 --> 00:22:10,62 never feel you know cut it. Let me nuts. Good. 273 00:22:26,61 --> 00:22:27,42 To see. 274 00:22:38,23 --> 00:22:39,09 The students bring in 275 00:22:39,86 --> 00:22:45,39 a pair of jeans and they bring the food here making it with beer here and it 276 00:22:45,40 --> 00:22:46,23 cooking together as 277 00:22:46,24 --> 00:22:50,65 a family and this morning when I came in all these families came in the parents the 278 00:22:50,66 --> 00:22:54,53 father the mother and they all came in for the food that world that assurance today 279 00:22:55,05 --> 00:23:00,22 and so it's one big famous one big dinner republish sharing the food while we have 280 00:23:00,23 --> 00:23:04,62 some entertainment on the side but our way of celebrating who we are. 281 00:23:08,15 --> 00:23:12,32 All we need to do is it is to let people see that there are other people in the 282 00:23:12,33 --> 00:23:16,94 world and these other cultures and food taste taste you know that's why it's so 283 00:23:16,95 --> 00:23:21,14 important to taste everything you know and you know even if you don't like it but 284 00:23:21,15 --> 00:23:25,71 you want appreciate that country even more when you like their food right but so I 285 00:23:25,72 --> 00:23:29,59 think it's very important to get a lot out of it's great education to do that it's 286 00:23:29,60 --> 00:23:32,70 a great way they don't even know they're learning problems but they are here 287 00:23:32,75 --> 00:23:37,20 because the tables also have information about each country so that soon serious 288 00:23:37,37 --> 00:23:41,12 questions we're learning about their country and chasing limited movement and 289 00:23:41,13 --> 00:23:47,78 watching it together I. There's no better way to 290 00:23:47,79 --> 00:23:53,86 celebrate the diversity at some price great thing great food great performances one 291 00:23:53,93 --> 00:23:59,75 of the summer neighborhood news I'm our sober she was last in honor of Earth Day we 292 00:23:59,76 --> 00:24:00,60 decided to take 293 00:24:00,61 --> 00:24:05,97 a closer look at the campaign to divest the city employees pension funds of all 294 00:24:05,98 --> 00:24:11,35 fossil fuel investments showing up Blake a fossil for use. And Mark need 295 00:24:11,36 --> 00:24:17,32 a game Alderman award for joints news director Jane Regan thank you very much for 296 00:24:17,33 --> 00:24:20,56 coming to the studio today Shoshanna maybe you can tell us 297 00:24:20,57 --> 00:24:23,81 a little bit about the organization Fossil Free Somerville started over 298 00:24:23,82 --> 00:24:25,58 a year ago when 299 00:24:25,62 --> 00:24:29,04 a bunch of climate change activists in the area realized that this national 300 00:24:29,05 --> 00:24:34,47 campaign for fossil fuel divestment was happening at universities and colleges it's 301 00:24:34,48 --> 00:24:38,90 actually International and also that it was starting to happen in cities and we 302 00:24:38,91 --> 00:24:41,37 decided that summer will be the perfect place to start 303 00:24:41,38 --> 00:24:47,53 a campaign. Climate change is the most devastating issue that our world faces right 304 00:24:47,54 --> 00:24:52,78 now and we all feel that Somerville can do its part to say we don't stand for this 305 00:24:52,99 --> 00:24:56,96 and we're not going to put our money in these companies that are caught essentially 306 00:24:56,97 --> 00:25:00,62 causing climate change with their dirty fossil fuels we were talking 307 00:25:00,63 --> 00:25:04,81 a little bit before the interview about the anti-apartheid movement and that 308 00:25:04,82 --> 00:25:08,47 divestment movement and didn't you say that that Massachusetts had 309 00:25:08,48 --> 00:25:13,73 a role in that divestment movement also yes actually Massachusetts with the first 310 00:25:13,74 --> 00:25:20,61 state in the country to divest its pension fund from South Africa and soon you 311 00:25:20,62 --> 00:25:23,96 know few years after when Nelson Mandela came to the U.S. 312 00:25:23,97 --> 00:25:29,12 He stopped in Massachusetts right away and I think. And how is that divestment 313 00:25:29,13 --> 00:25:33,74 movement going for the fossil fuels so over twenty municipalities in the country 314 00:25:34,01 --> 00:25:38,98 have decided to divest San Francisco Seattle even Cambridge 315 00:25:38,99 --> 00:25:44,13 a Cambridge Massachusetts very city council has voted on it and actually five of 316 00:25:44,14 --> 00:25:48,63 those cities are in Massachusetts so it's going pretty well Mark I know that you 317 00:25:48,64 --> 00:25:52,97 and many other Alderman have said that you agree in principle with this and I think 318 00:25:52,98 --> 00:25:57,85 also the mayor America Tony has said that he agrees in principle with divestment So 319 00:25:57,86 --> 00:26:03,01 how's it going up at city hall so an interesting situation. The actual decider in 320 00:26:03,02 --> 00:26:03,88 Somerville is 321 00:26:03,89 --> 00:26:09,46 a five person retirement board that oversees the pension fund is his investments so 322 00:26:09,47 --> 00:26:14,51 the mayor. Board of Aldermen has no official influence on this we may have some 323 00:26:14,52 --> 00:26:17,92 moral influence by speaking out and so we received 324 00:26:17,93 --> 00:26:21,92 a petition from one hundred twenty nine residents that fossil fuel summer will 325 00:26:21,93 --> 00:26:24,14 organize these people asking for 326 00:26:24,15 --> 00:26:27,28 a public hearing and asking that the Board of Aldermen pass 327 00:26:27,29 --> 00:26:32,26 a resolution urging the retirement board to divest from fossil fuel investments. 328 00:26:32,90 --> 00:26:37,59 Before we could discuss it we were told by the city solicitor who had asked the 329 00:26:37,60 --> 00:26:41,83 state ethics commission that we were not allowed to discuss it and not allowed to 330 00:26:41,84 --> 00:26:43,65 take any formal action as 331 00:26:43,66 --> 00:26:47,71 a board despite the fact that other cities have already done this they didn't 332 00:26:47,72 --> 00:26:51,90 bother to ask the state ethics commission so we have this opinion from the state 333 00:26:51,91 --> 00:26:57,97 ethics commission and we are considering what to do i know i would you know I 334 00:26:58,01 --> 00:27:02,07 support divestment I think most of my colleagues and not all of my colleagues do as 335 00:27:02,08 --> 00:27:04,55 well but we are now faced with 336 00:27:04,56 --> 00:27:08,99 a legal opinion that were not for conflict of interest reasons that to be honest 337 00:27:09,00 --> 00:27:09,52 don't really make 338 00:27:09,53 --> 00:27:12,66 a lot of sense to me but that's what we've been told by the state ethics commission 339 00:27:13,07 --> 00:27:16,46 because of these conflicts of interest interest reasons we cannot act as 340 00:27:16,47 --> 00:27:21,76 a board so we're now considering our options waiting for more information about 341 00:27:21,77 --> 00:27:25,84 what this means exactly what if we defied the state ethics commission there we 342 00:27:25,88 --> 00:27:31,24 could do be reprimands fines we want to consider that and then decide what to do 343 00:27:31,80 --> 00:27:36,11 who is the retirement board and hope picks them there are two members that are 344 00:27:36,12 --> 00:27:40,45 elected by all the retiree's in the pit all the people in the pension fund there's 345 00:27:40,46 --> 00:27:45,80 a pointy of the mayor and the finance director Ed being is on it I'll put you on 346 00:27:45,81 --> 00:27:46,24 the spot 347 00:27:46,25 --> 00:27:51,76 a little bit and I'll ask you either as an individual or as an alderman What do you 348 00:27:51,77 --> 00:27:57,33 think this city should do and what do you feel about divestment and climate change 349 00:27:57,37 --> 00:28:02,59 I know you wrote you by care didn't you Yeah well I think that divestment from 350 00:28:02,60 --> 00:28:06,60 investments in fossil fuel use fuels is the only sane thing to do it's both 351 00:28:06,64 --> 00:28:13,37 ethically and financially and economically the intelligent and right thing to do I 352 00:28:13,38 --> 00:28:17,04 think these are bad investments that are likely to tank and that's bad for our 353 00:28:17,05 --> 00:28:22,67 retirees as well as the fact that you know carbon is failing our atmosphere and 354 00:28:22,68 --> 00:28:25,27 will eventually destroy the planet so to me it's 355 00:28:25,28 --> 00:28:29,91 a no brainer and I'm going to speak out as much as I can on this I've already asked 356 00:28:29,92 --> 00:28:35,36 the city solicitor for an opinion on whether. As an individual Alderman I can lobby 357 00:28:35,40 --> 00:28:41,27 the pension the retirement board send letters speak publicly cetera I just want to 358 00:28:41,28 --> 00:28:45,47 check before I do so the mayor already said in his inauguration speech that he 359 00:28:45,48 --> 00:28:49,94 supported it so I assume that it's fine if he did it but I'm waiting for that 360 00:28:49,95 --> 00:28:53,86 opinion and then I'll do everything I can to push for this you can find out more 361 00:28:53,90 --> 00:28:59,74 about the some of the campaign at Fossil Free Summerville dot org Well that wraps 362 00:28:59,75 --> 00:29:05,11 up this newscast thanks for joining us we'll be back on May sixth but don't just 363 00:29:05,12 --> 00:29:09,73 tune in once every two weeks check us out on Facebook and share your favorite 364 00:29:09,74 --> 00:29:11,12 segment or send 365 00:29:11,13 --> 00:29:17,59 a tweet that's Skapti V S and we welcome you to get involved with some of L. 366 00:29:17,68 --> 00:29:22,56 Neighborhood news what's happening on your block who is your neighborhood hero what 367 00:29:22,60 --> 00:29:28,33 issues aren't being covered become more porter or send in your ideas call the Scott 368 00:29:28,34 --> 00:29:28,60 T.V. 369 00:29:28,61 --> 00:29:35,42 Studio at six one seven six two eight eight two six or right two news at Scott 370 00:29:35,43 --> 00:29:35,67 T.V. 371 00:29:35,68 --> 00:29:41,62 Summerville dot org I'm Lynn and I'm Andrew McLeod see you around the neighborhood 372 00:29:41,62 --> 00:29:41,62 .